Improvement in billiard-cushions of rubber and gutta-percha



UNITED STATES PATENT JOHN MURPHY, oF NEW YORK, Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,391, dated September 26, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MURPHY, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improved Billiard-Cushion, of which the following is a specification:

Y All billiard-cushions are now made of India-A rubber strips of a triangular sectional shape, as

shown in the drawing. It has been found, however, that such strips, when made of rubber only, are too elastic, and allow the ball, in striking the exposed edge of the cushion-strip, to bury itself too deep in the rubber; and to avoid this dittlculty and render the said edge ofthe strip more repelling various plans have been resorted to, such, for instance, as shown in Figure 1 of the annexed drawing, where there are two strips of cloth inserted, running along the whole length of the cushion, near the surface of the inner side, which presents itself to the balls, the strips of cloth being marked c c in the said Fig. 1. But as there is no elasticity in the vthreads of the cloth so inserted, it is liable to break from the action of the balls in striking the edge of the cushion, and also from the fact that the cloth,

being surrounded by rubber, :must necessarily decay in short time.

My improved cushion, the construction of which is shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing, consists in inserting into the rubbercushion strip a strip or a cord of gutta-percha, l), running along the whole length of the cushion, for the purpose of re-envforcing the repelling power of the cushion. This gutta-percha strip cannot breakor stretch by the blows of the balls, and, being surrounded by rubber, and consequently protected from the action of the atmosphere, will never decay, and, having a limited power of elasticity, will render the cushion perfect and lasting.

I claim as my invention- Abilliard-cushion composed of rubber and gutta-percha, the two substances being combined,

'substantially as and for the purpose herein spec ilied.

J OHN MURPHY. 

